Bangladesh Thrash Sri Lanka 9-1 in SAFF U-20 Women’s Championship, Sagarika Scores Hat-Trick

Sagarika, donning the number 10 jersey, celebrated another goal as her teammates erupted in joy.

In a commanding display, Bangladesh demolished Sri Lanka 9-1 in their opening match of the SAFF Under-20 Women’s Championship at Dhaka’s Kings Arena today. The hosts showcased their dominance from the first minute, turning the game into a goal-fest.

Mossammat Sagarika led the charge with a sensational hat-trick, while Munki Akter contributed two goals. Single strikes came from Swapna Rani, Sinha Jahan Shikha, Rupa Akter, and Shanti Mardi. Six of Bangladesh’s nine goals were scored in the second half, underlining their relentless attack. Coach Peter Butler fielded eight players from the recently concluded Asian Cup qualifiers in the starting lineup, and their experience was evident as Sri Lanka struggled to cope. The scoring began in the second minute when 19-year-old midfielder Swapna Rani found the net with a stunning free-kick. Three minutes later, Munki Akter doubled the lead, dismantling Sri Lanka’s defense with a solo effort. Bangladesh maintained their momentum, creating several chances in the first half. In the 15th minute, Sagarika’s shot hit the post, and in the 19th minute, Munki missed a golden opportunity from close range. However, their attacking rhythm remained unshaken. The third goal arrived in the 37th minute when Sagarika delicately slotted in a cross from Sinha Jahan. Despite two disallowed goals in the 38th and 45th minutes due to offside calls, Bangladesh went into the break with a 3-0 lead. The second half saw Bangladesh unleash a barrage of goals. In the 48th minute, Munki scored her second, assisted by Sagarika. A minute later, Sinha Jahan converted a long cross from Shanti Mardi. Sagarika struck again in the 52nd minute, capitalizing on a pass from Banya Khatun to make it 6-0. She completed her hat-trick in the 58th minute, finishing a precise pass from Puja Das. Sri Lanka briefly held firm, but Rupa Akter broke through in the 85th minute, scoring from a corner by Banya. Sri Lanka managed a consolation goal in the 90th minute through Liyanshika, exploiting a defensive lapse. However, Shanti Mardi restored Bangladesh’s nine-goal haul with a final strike soon after. **Tournament Details** Originally set to feature five teams, the tournament saw India withdraw, leaving Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan to compete. The format has been adjusted to a round-robin league, with each team playing the others twice, resulting in six matches per team. The team with the most points will lift the trophy. Bangladesh’s next match is against Nepal on July 13, followed by back-to-back games against Bhutan on July 15 and 17. They face Sri Lanka again on July 19 and conclude their campaign against Nepal on July 21. Bangladesh has a rich history in age-group SAFF tournaments, having won the title four times in five editions, including a joint championship with India in 2024. -